Clint Hurdle

During the long days and longer nights in the hospital, when he closed his eyes, Jeff Banister saw diamonds and baseballs. This June afternoon at Dodger Stadium, with the sun shining over the San Gabriels and the mitts popping, is one of those days he had fantasized about during two long hospital stays in his youth. Now, though, it is all real. For the moment, Banister is indoors, in the visiting manager's office at Dodger Stadium. He hates being inside, but a few hours here is a small price for what he has become, the first-year manager of the surprisingly relevant, refreshingly fun Texas Rangers, 6 1/2 games out of the American League West lead entering the weekend. As his...

Related "Clint Hurdle" Articles

During the long days and longer nights in the hospital, when he closed his eyes, Jeff Banister saw diamonds and baseballs.
This June afternoon at Dodger Stadium, with the sun shining over the San Gabriels and the mitts popping, is one of those days he...

New York Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol.
MLB announced the punishment Saturday. This is the fourth penalty for a positive...

Matt Williams, who led the Washington Nationals to the best record in the National League in his first season as a manager, and Buck Showalter, who led the Baltimore Orioles to their first division championship since 1997, were honored Tuesday as managers...

Clayton Kershaw, Clayton Kershaw, Clayton Kershaw.
Don’t get tired hearing about him just yet, his name figures to keep popping up as more postseason awards are announced.
Kershaw officially became a finalist for baseball’s two biggest honors Tuesday...

The clock had just struck 10 on Sunday morning, the dawn of a classic day of baseball. This was Game 162, and not one postseason matchup was set.
The Dodgers did not know what team they would play. But they knew they were in the playoffs, and their first...

A day that started with the Dodgers thinking of moving Yasiel Puig to center field ended with a 12-7 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates that presented them with reasons to explore how they could upgrade their pitching staff.
As Puig and Hanley Ramirez...

As returns go, the legend of MacArthur remains unthreatened. They’ll write no songs to celebrate Josh Beckett coming off the disabled list Tuesday, which is not to say he did not make it memorable in his way.
Beckett made his first start since July 6...

Atlanta put pitcher Gavin Floyd on the disabled list because of a broken bone in his right elbow, the latest setback to the Braves' jumbled rotation.
Floyd suffered the unusual injury — to the olecranon, the bony tip of the ulna that sticks out at the...

Shortstop Yunel Escobar and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a two-year contract extension covering 2015 and 2016 worth a guaranteed $13 million.
The deal announced Saturday also includes a club option for 2017. The extension replaces a 2015 club...

Take nothing for granted -- that’s one of those pearls of wisdom you’re supposed to carry around with you at all times.
So if you’re just absolutely certain Clayton Kershaw is going to win his second National League Cy Young award this off-season,...

PITTSBURGH — Michael Wacha says the biggest game he had pitched before joining the St. Louis Cardinals was two years ago when he held Florida State to three hits, sending Texas A&M to the College World Series.
“It was an elimination game,” he said....

ST. LOUIS — Carlos Beltran, Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals gave Pittsburgh a quick reality jolt.
Beltran's three-run homer sparked a seven-run third inning Thursday and the Cardinals got seven stingy innings from Wainwright to open their...

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates went 21 years between playoff games. The wait will be significantly shorter this time around.
Russell Martin homered twice, Francisco Liriano was dominant for seven innings and the Pirates roared past the Cincinnati...

The Pittsburgh Pirates have proved their staying power this season with top-flight pitching and strong performances by young position players, but the organization continued on Saturday to improve its lineup with the acquisition of left-handed slugger...

All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia is close to a contract that could keep him with the Boston Red Sox for his entire career.
A person with knowledge of the talks said Tuesday that Pedroia is in the process of agreeing to a deal adding $100 million...